Simla Landslide affects Tibetan shops, CTA expresses Sympathy

Monday, 22 September 2008, 2:24 p.m.
Dharamshala: The home department of the Central Tibetan Administration has expressed its sympathy to the Tibetan families affected in the landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Simla, the capital of north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, on 19 September.

"Sixteen Tibetan shops consisting of 14 shops and 2 restaurants were destroyed in the natural calamity, but no casualties of human life have occurred," Mr Ngodup Dorjee, acting secretary of the home department told TibetNet.

He said uprooting of trees caused by the landslide compounded the intensity of the damage.

He said the deputy commissioner and the commissioner of Simla Municipal Corporation visited the affected site and offered to provide relief to the victims.

He further said the representative of the Tibetan settlement in Simla is in contact with the local administration.

The loss to the property for each shop was estimated to be between Rs 3 to 8 lakh.

"We have directed the representative of the Tibetan settlement in Simla to assess the actual loss of property and send a report to the home department on Tuesday," Mr Dorjee said.

He appealed to Tibetan supporters and sympathisers to come forward to help and show solidarity with the affected families.

According to media reports, continuous heavy downpour in many areas of Himachal Pradesh in the last five days has caused damage to life and property.